On City Connect Night, the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team welcomed the University at Buffalo Bulls to the George Gervin GameAbove Center for their first matchup of the season.
The Bulls entered the match on a three-game losing streak with a 6-12 overall record, while the Eagles looked to return home and break a two-game skid after their losses to the Ohio University Bobcats.
The first set began immediately as libero Sujabhi Srinivasan served the first ace of the game, while Buffalo was unable to respond. The set was extremely back-and-forth, with Ashlynn Belcher also claiming an ace for Eastern. Belcher’s defense was also on display as a diving play for the ball resulted in another Eagle point, tying the first set 11-11 and forcing Buffalo to call a timeout.
The Bulls defense was stifling as they racked up four blocks by the midway point of the first set. The Eagles were forced to call a timeout as the Bulls scored five straight for a score of 18-13. Another ace for the Eagles by Hatteras Welker could only slow Buffalo’s momentum as they took the first set 25-20.
Eastern’s defense was much improved in the second set after successfully killing multiple Buffalo attacks. The second set was filled with multiple rallies that resulted in points for both teams. Eastern was forced to take a timeout after the Bulls increased their lead to five with a 12-7 score, but the Eagles were quickly back on the attack.
Welker and Ava Siefke were both essential to the Eagles’ ability to compete during the second set. Kendal Bonney was also effective as she had multiple kills and clutch blocks during the set.
Buffalo took a timeout with a 22-19 lead after another successful kill by Anna Guard yielded the unintended consequence of giving Buffalo the momentum and energy they needed to acquire their second set and go up 2-0 in the best of five series.
The Eagles' fast start in the third set was quickly snuffed out as Buffalo scored four straight points, giving them an early 5-4 lead. Buffalo’s defense continued to stifle the Eagles’ offense, but multiple attacks by Ella Voorhees softened the Bulls’ defense and allowed the Eagles to score three straight. A successful challenge by the Bulls allowed them to tie the game at 13, but a kill by Bri Struck gave the Eagles the lead right back.
Another challenge by the Bulls gave them a 15-14 lead going into the halfway timeout, but two kills by Siefke gave the Eagles a one-point lead with Eastern looking to extend the series to another set. However, an ace by Buffalo gave the Bulls another two-point lead, and Eastern was forced to call a timeout in an attempt to gather any momentum they could going into the final part of the set.
Buffalo’s outstanding defense and dangerous outside hitters proved too difficult for Eastern to counteract, and they fell in the final set 25-17.
Siefke and Welker led the Eagles with seven and six kills respectively, while Belcher led the team with 20 assists, also leading the team with two aces. With the loss, the Eagles fall 2-8 in conference play while boasting a 10-13 record overall.
The Eagles will return to the George Gervin GameAbove Center on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, for a 6 p.m. rematch with the Bulls as they look to break their three-game losing streak.
